The smallest hands can make the biggest difference and kids across southern Alberta demonstrated that in a huge way over the past year.

Through the Kids Helping Kids program, hundreds of youth flexed their creative muscles in support of the Alberta Children’s Hospital — some laced up for an entire season of fundraising through the Hockey Kids Helping Kids initiative, others participated in school bike-a-thons, sold lemonade, shaved their heads or became Birthday Heroes.

Together, they raised an astounding $471,265 that will be used to purchase new equipment, fund specialized programming and drive research that will help even more kids in the future.

“We are so fortunate to live in a community with so many caring, thoughtful young people who are willing to get involved to help others,” says Carmen Dressler, Kids Helping Kids program lead with the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation.

Ruby Penney was inspired to get involved during her own medical journey at the Alberta Children’s Hospital that began in 2022 due to a rare, degenerative condition called Idiopathic Chondrolysis of the Hip.

“When I was sick, I was in the hospital for a really long time, and I had gotten so many gifts,” says 11-year-old Ruby. “So when my birthday came, my mom suggested that we ask for donations for the hospital instead of more gifts and I thought that was a great idea. We raised $300 from my birthday! So, we started an online donation page and told all our friends and family, and my mom kept updating it. We’ve now raised $28,000 because people are so kind.”

As soon as Ruby learned that she could direct the money toward the building of new and improved playground spaces at the Alberta Children’s Hospital, she knew that’s what she was going to do.

“Playgrounds are very important to me,” says Ruby. “Before I was in a wheelchair, I loved exploring new playgrounds all over the city with my brother and sister. All kids deserve the right to play, no matter what their bodies can or cannot do.”

The Kids Helping Kids program is an outlet for creative and caring young people who want to make a positive impact on the lives of families who rely on the Alberta Children’s Hospital. Through bake sales, or by becoming a Birthday Hero or school-wide events like bike-a-thons, Kids Helping Kids gives young people a chance to make a difference. Learn more about Kids Helping Kids today.